JEFFERSON CITY – The Ste. Genevieve FFA was one of 86 Missouri 4-H clubs and FFA chapters who have received $500 grants through FCS Financial’s Shaping Rural Missouri Grant program to support youth-led community improvement projects across the state this summer.
Ste. Genevieve FFA will use their grant to build children’s picnic tables for public use.
This marks the 15th year of the Shaping Rural Missouri Grant program. Since its inception, FCS Financial has awarded more than $407,000 through 836 grants to strengthen rural Missouri communities.
FCS Financial Chief Executive Officer Rob Guinn said the continued dedication shown by Missouri youth and their leaders through agricultural service projects remains encouraging.
Guinn said the grants allow 4-H and FFA members to work together on projects that create tangible benefits in their communities while developing leadership and teamwork skills.
The following Missouri organizations also received 2026 Shaping Rural Missouri Grants:
- 4 C’s 4-H Club (Cooper County): Enhancing the local community through beautification and landscaping projects.
- Atlanta FFA (Macon County): Installing flower beds to improve public spaces.
- Be Bo Bouncers 4-H Club (Audrain County): Revitalizing the exterior of the community center through landscaping and signage improvements.
- Boonville FFA Chapter (Cooper County): Leading beautification efforts at Central Missouri Cancer Memorial Park.
- Busy Beavers 4-H Club (Audrain County): Improving accessibility and parking safety at the fairgrounds with gravel upgrades.
- Campbellton Livestock 4-H (Franklin County): Landscaping improvements at the Campbellton firehouse.
- Canton FFA (Lewis County): Constructing a manure bunker to support agricultural waste management.
- Caring Clovers 4-H (Jasper County): Building sustainable garden beds for community gardening and food access.
- Carrollton ACC FFA (Carroll County): Supporting new restroom construction at Carroll County Fairgrounds.
- Colony 4-H Club (Knox County): Participating in restroom renovations at Knox County Fairgrounds.
- Country Crossroads 4-H Club (Warren County): Installing a livestock barn scale for youth agricultural education.
- County Liners 4-H Club (Knox County): Supporting modernization of Knox County Fairgrounds facilities.
- Countyline 4-H (Bates County): Developing a community sand volleyball court.
- Daniel Boone After School 4-H Club (Warren County): Expanding youth communication resources with public speaking materials.
- ECLC 4-H Club (Polk County): Creating an outdoor educational learning area.
- Elkhorn 4-H Club (Warren County): Installing a sheep washing station at county fairgrounds.
- EPCO 4-H (Polk County): Developing a hydroponic gardening system for agricultural education.
- Eudora 4-H Club (Polk County): Establishing a community garden at Grant Manor.
- Fair Play Hornets 4-H Club (Polk County): Improving local outdoor community spaces.
- Family Fun 4-H (Cooper County): Completing landscaping projects at the fairgrounds.
- Fayette FFA (Howard County): Landscaping the new Howard County Fairgrounds building.
- Glasgow FFA Chapter (Howard County): Supporting construction of the Howard County 4-H and FFA building.
- Glenwood Whistle Stop 4-H (Schuyler County): Restoring the community bandstand with paint, lighting, and floral improvements.
- Graham 4-H Club (Nodaway County): Installing a permanent welcome sign at Graham Park.
- Guys & Gals 4-H Club (Ray County): Replacing the concession stand roof at the fairgrounds.
- Halfway 4-H Club (Polk County): Leading school beautification efforts.
- Heartland 4-H Club (Shelby County): Beautifying the local Extension office.
- Hickory County Blazers 4-H (Hickory County): Developing greenhouse starter kits for youth agricultural education.
- Higbee FFA (Randolph County): Installing a GaGa Ball pit for student recreation.
- Home Pioneer 4-H (Macon County): Improving Atlanta City Park.
- Humansville 4-H Gardening Club (Polk County): Building a community garden and greenhouse facility.
- Humansville 4-H Club (Polk County): Creating an outdoor reading and relaxation area.
- Jefferson 4-H (Nodaway County): Completing phase two of the Teen Beat playground project.
- Jonesburg Kountry Kids (Montgomery County): Installing industrial circulation fans in fairground restrooms.
- Knox County FFA (Knox County): Launching a shelf-stable meal initiative for students.
- Lawson 4-H Club (Ray County): Repairing and maintaining the Lawson Food Pantry building.
- Leonard Caring Clovers (Shelby County): Installing community safety lighting.
- Lewis County C-1 FFA (Lewis County): Constructing a manure bunker for fairground maintenance.
- Liberty Leaders 4-H Club (Knox County): Leading fairground restroom modernization.
- Lucky Charms 4-H (Shelby County): Beautifying the Extension office.
- Macon Easy Riders 4-H Club (Macon County): Replacing trees at Macon County Fairgrounds.
- Maries County Rising Stars 4-H (Maries County): Constructing a new barn entryway.
- Mark Twain 4-H Club (Monroe County): Installing a livestock wash rack and improving water access.
- Monticello 4-H Club (Lewis County): Constructing a manure bunker.
- Montrose Busy Beavers 4-H Club (Henry County): Installing digital radios for public safety communication.
- Montrose FFA Chapter (Henry County): Upgrading softball facilities.
- North Callaway FFA (Callaway County): Improving bleachers at Callaway Youth Expo Fairgrounds.
- Northeast Vernon County FFA (Vernon County): Developing pickleball courts in Walker.
- Oak Leaf Achivers (Grundy County): Upgrading a trailer for shooting sports equipment.
- Oyster Prairie (Lewis County): Supporting fairground agricultural infrastructure construction.
- Paris FFA (Monroe County): Installing livestock wash racks.
- Pershing’s Pride 4-H (Linn County): Creating a veterans tribute flag project.
- PHMS Pirates 4-H (Polk County): Establishing a school recycling program.
- Polk County 4-H Council (Polk County): Improving the local Extension building.
- Potosi FFA (Washington County): Modernizing greenhouse facilities.
- Prairie 4-H (Shelby County): Completing Extension office beautification.
- Prairie View 4-H Club (Warren County): Installing a livestock hose system.
- Randolph County Shooting Sports (Randolph County): Building a shelter at the shooting range.
- Range Master 4-H (Lafayette County): Purchasing safety equipment and locks for shooting sports.
- Rolling Stones 4-H Club (Warren County): Planting community flower beds.
- Santa Fe FFA (Lafayette County): Renovating the city park cook shack.
- Slater FFA (Saline County): Expanding greenhouse educational opportunities.
- South Nodaway FFA (Nodaway County): Building planter boxes for community beautification.
- Anthony 4-H (Miller County): Improving the local community park.
- Stockmasters 4-H (Maries County): Installing a sound system in the livestock barn.
- Sunshine Kids 4-H Club (Putnam County): Remodeling the local 4-H building.
- Ten Mile 4-H Club (Lewis County): Constructing manure bunkers for fairgrounds use.
- The Rebecca Boone Afterschool 4-H Club (Warren County): Installing pollination planters.
- Tiny Tots 4-H Club (Polk County): Building an inclusive playground.
- Vanguard 4-H Club (Perry County): Landscaping improvements for senior community spaces.
- Vienna FFA (Maries County): Installing animal pens and shade cloth at fairgrounds.
- Walker 4-H Club (Vernon County): Supporting community pickleball court construction.
- Walnut Grove 4-H Club (Lewis County): Building a manure bunker for fairgrounds.
- Walnut Grove 4-H Club (Polk County): Supporting in-school agricultural club programming.
- Warren County 4-H Council (Warren County): Hosting the Nature Quest outdoor education program.
- Warren County 4-H Gardening Project Group (Warren County): Revitalizing the Truesdale Community Garden.
- Warren County 4-H Poultry Project Group (Warren County): Adding an embryology incubator system.
- Warren County 4-H Powered STEM Project Group (Warren County): Expanding the 4-H STEM 2 Go program.
- Warren County 4-H Teen Leaders (Warren County): Launching a food pantry awareness initiative.
- Warren County Trailblazers 4-H Club (Warren County): Installing handicapped parking signage.
- Warrenton FFA Chapter (Warren County): Constructing goat wash racks.
- Warrior Ridge After School 4-H Club (Warren County): Completing Extension office landscaping.
- West Platte FFA (Platte County): Launching a recycling initiative.
- Woodlawn 4-H (Polk County): Organizing a community youth day camp.
- Zion Lone Elm 4-H (Cooper County): Upgrading fairground electrical and landscaping infrastructure.
FCS Financial said the grant program continues to focus on strengthening rural communities while encouraging youth leadership through meaningful service projects.